corkscrews on knives

[coinshooter]

Probably the silliest question of the day.
Anybody know the reason for so many knives made in the last 50 years (long after the pop-top and bottle cap came along) still having corkscrews (other than the obvious need to pull a cork out of a bottle)?
Somehow I can't envision planning a long hike in the woods and hauling along a heavy wine bottle with a cork in it. And I don't know anyone who keeps wine bottles at their desk and needs a corkscrew for their morning, noon and afternoon break - at least no one that kept their job for very long.
Any other known legitimate purpose for a corkscrew on a pocket knive?

[pointythings]

Other than Swiss army knives and some European knives, which knives are you talking about?

Europeans drink far more wine than Americans do, so a corkscrew would make more sense.

--Karl

[coinshooter]

Victorinox and its clones - you're right, they are all European made.
That's a lot of straight corks - and a good excuse to finish the bottle because you can't get the cork back in

[philco]

I have a theory about this subject. Here goes.

Corkscrews are put on pocketknives because the vast majority of pocketknife users are men; herterosexual men (or boys). One of the main goals in life for a healthy hereroxexual male is to impress members of the opposite sex, ie females. Are you with me so far? Good.

Now there is not much more impressive or romantic to the average female than a picnic in the great outdoors, especially if it takes place in some secluded and scenic location. The problem that presents is being able to have all the necessary equipment along in said secluded location. You got to have the proverbial loaf of bread, a bottle of wine and of course her. That means, of course lugging a heavy picnic basket in one hand while holding her hand with the other.

Once you reach your destination, you will no doubt need to cut a branch that's blocking the perfect view or whittle some shavings to use to start a fire. You whip out your trusty do it all knife and begin to work your magic. Once the fire's going, you open the picnic basket and bring out the wine. Now is your moment. You gently insert the corkscrew into the cork as she watches in awe. (don't miss the hidden symbolism here guys) Carefully you screw the corkscrew into the cork fully then with those big strong hands of yours tug until the cork pops out. Now she is putty in your hands if you have done everything correctly so far!

You produce two wine glasses from that three ton basket you've brought along. You pour each of you a glass and then offer a toast "To Us!" Slowly you sip your wine being very careful not to spill it on your shirt. If you're really good you'll comment about how exquisite it taste but how its splendor pales in comparison to her charms.

By now she is totally enamored with you and is convinced you can handle anything with finese' and style. She melts into your arms.

That, my friend is why they still put corkscrews on knives. Some things never grow old!

[coinshooter]

You have forgotten the old American adage
Wine's fine
But liquor's quicker
And you don't have to drive 30 miles to find secluded spot, get chased by angry cows, bitten by bees and find ants in you picnic basket

[jonet143]

phil, what a romantic!

a corkscrew is a corkscrew is a corkscrew. if and when you need a corkscrew(assuming you carry a knife so equipped) the reason for it's existence becomes crystal clear!

[philco]

phil, what a romantic!

a corkscrew is a corkscrew is a corkscrew. if and when you need a corkscrew(assuming you carry a knife so equiped) the reason for it's existance becomes crystal clear!

Johnnie,
If you will notice, I said it was a theory. I am a firm believer in using the most effective strategy to achieve the desired results!
When you're old, fat and ugly like me, you've got to use whatever works.

Maybe I should have simply said they make them because people continue to buy them and left it at that. I was just trying to help you guys out a little.
Phil

[jonet143]

i don't know, phil, sounded like more than theory to me! even old,fat and ugly people need romance.

[philco]

i don't know, phil, sounded like more than theory to me! even old,fat and ugly people need romance.

OK Johnnie, I confess. I have popped one or two on a picnic..........


Corks that is!

[coinshooter]

Now that we have established that corkscrews, while somehow assisting Cupids romantic arrows, are there only to pull corks out of wine bottles, how about the little gadget next to it? The little arm with the hook at the end. 100 years ago when everybody wore button shoes, it pulled the button thru the button hole. Now, velcro aside, I know buttons are still in use but I have never seen anybody use a button hook. Any ideas on that?

[jonet143]

you're way too young(me too) for buttonhooks! do you have one made recently? why don't you show us this old knife with all the bells and whistles?

[coinshooter]

Almost any victorinox will have them - and more.
And there are mornings when I feel more than old enough for button hooks
I actually have one. Use it to lift and straighten the elastic bands on the knife roll when they get twisted - but that can't be the only reason they still make them

[coinshooter]

8dc0_2.jpg (7.98 KiB) Viewed 3306 times

Right off ebay (hope that doesn't violate any trademarks)
and right next to the corkscrew

[jonet143]

oh, a victorinox. they call that a multi-function hook.

[Corbin0192]

One thing I've found a SAK's corkscrew good for is untying a nasty knot. They're also very useful for holding a micro screw driver, like I've said before; no wasted space on a Swiss Army Knife (SAK).

[lenny357]

screw it

Bruckman

[coinshooter]

Well at last we are getting some answers.
The corkscrew can assist romantic interludes, help undo nasty knots and hold micro screw drivers (while being carried or used?)
And the hook can pull buttons thru button holes, straighten elastic straps that hold knives in a roll and is factory described as "multi-functional" (does two count as multi?)
There must be more

[stlouisknives]

"During one of my treks through Afghanistan, we lost our corkscrew. We were compelled to live on food and water for several days."
-W.C. Fields

[johnnierotten]

Hey..those are super nice!!....does the first one have horn scales or some kind of composite?

[smiling-knife]

Well at last we are getting some answers.
The corkscrew can assist romantic interludes, help undo nasty knots and hold micro screw drivers (while being carried or used?)
And the hook can pull buttons thru button holes, straighten elastic straps that hold knives in a roll and is factory described as "multi-functional" (does two count as multi?)
There must be more

The Swiss Army Knife Collectors' Companion suggests that the hook may be used to carry parcels (e.g., perhaps those bound with string or plastic straps) and opening tins with ring pulls (e.g., sardine can). The sturdier hooks on old knives might have been used to tighten boot laces and they are similar to bird hooks on some hunting folders e.g., the Camillus Wild Life series with the ducks etc.

In the 1800s all types of bottles were sealed with corks, e.g., wine, ale, medicine, perfume, etc... thus those tiny little corkscrews on ladies knives, often opening from the end of the knife for the latter.

[smiling-knife]

Lenny357.... like the corkscrew knives Is the middle knife a Bruckmann or, if not, who made that one. Thanks s-k

[lenny357]

The black one (Buffolo Horn) and Pearl are both Bruckmans
Levines Guide goes into the whole history of cork screws, seems the Germans and swiss kept them around for longer than the American Knife companies. They were used for old perfume bottles originally, not really the wine thing.

Open these pics up get a close look at these